It should be obvious from my imaginary booth number that I love Sherlock Holmes and his ilk. I should have been born English. On July 4th, I wish for Reunification Day as much as I celebrate Independence Day.
All to say, I love the English language. I love how it sounds, when tailored well. I love words and I love storytelling. It may come as no surprise that I was an English major in college — though I very nearly wasn’t. My first, compulsory English class was miserable and I nearly scrapped the idea altogether. The next semester there was a class entitled “The Detective and Criminal in Literature.” We read Poe and Doyle, but I was also exposed to Wilkie Collins, whose vast works I am still enjoying. It was by no means a “fluff” course, but engaged my sensibilities on a different level. I am now finishing my Masters in Cinema Studies, which uses some of the same tools to examine storytelling.
By day, I manage a nonprofit. But a little over a year ago I practically fell into book reviews. I strive to write reviews that do more than provide a summary. Rather, I attempt to use my skills as an analyst to tease out themes. Most of all, I try to make sure my reader knows whether or not THEY might like the book, regardless of how I liked it. I’d like to think Holmes and Watson would have approved.
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I’m blogging from my home in a Historic District near Savannah, GA. This is my first Armchair BEA, and I’m hoping to “meet” some great bloggers, authors and publicists!